ED Uncovers Massive Human Trafficking Network Involving 262 Canadian Colleges and Two Indian Entities

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has uncovered a sprawling human trafficking operation involving 262 Canadian colleges and two Indian entities, orchestrating fraudulent admissions to facilitate illegal migration to the United States. The network, which had widespread operations, included 112 Canadian colleges working with one Indian entity and over 150 others collaborating with a second Indian partner.

The investigation, sparked by the tragic deaths of a family from Dingucha village, Gujarat, on the Canada-US border in January 2022, has revealed alarming details. The family’s death led to the ED’s probe, initiated by an FIR filed by the Ahmedabad Crime Branch against Bhavesh Ashokbhai Patel and others. The raids conducted in December 2023 at eight locations, including Mumbai, Nagpur, Gandhinagar, and Vadodara, uncovered significant evidence, including ₹19 lakh in bank accounts, incriminating documents, digital devices, and vehicles.

The traffickers charged victims ₹55-60 lakh each, enrolling them in Canadian colleges under false pretenses to obtain student visas. Once in Canada, the individuals were directed to illegally cross into the US, bypassing the educational institutions they were enrolled in. In return, the colleges allegedly refunded tuition fees to the victims’ accounts as part of the scam.

The ED’s investigation revealed that one Mumbai-based entity referred around 25,000 students annually to foreign colleges, while a Nagpur-based entity referred over 10,000, all as part of the scheme to facilitate illegal migration under the guise of education. The ED continues its efforts to dismantle this extensive trafficking network and bring the perpetrators to justice.